- Defeated the Qin dynasty.
- Established silk road with trade to inner asia.
- Expanded the economy.
- Enforced better education. Many encyclopedias were created.
- Paper was invented.
- Better tools were invented, therefore agriculture was better.
- Incorporated Confucian ideals.
- They recruited people for the government based on their ability, not birth or wealth
- Han Dynasty accomplishments:
- Civil Service competitive exams
- State Academy
- Seismograph invented to detect earthquakes
- Iron ploughs led by oxen became common; coal to smelt iron
- Water-power mills
- Censuses
- Paper invented
- Probably gunpowder

- The second Han Dynasty had much success with their foreign policy
- The reign of the Han Dynasty, lasting over 400 years,
- The Han Dynasty was notable also for its military prowess
- Military technology in the Han period was advanced by the use of cast iron and steel. which the 1st century engineer Du Shi had made easier by applying the hydraulic power of waterwheels in workin in working the bellows of the blast fernace. The military of the han dynasty engaged in chemical warfare.
- other technology advancements include the hydraulic-powered trip hammer, rotary fan, and the cardan suspension.
- The Western Han Dynasty was regarded as the first unified and powerful empire in Chinese history.
- This Han Dynasty based on a series of political and economic reforms, was ruled by 12 emperors in succession enjoying peace and prosperity.
- Two generals were dispatched, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing to fight against the invasion of the Hun (an ancient tribe that lived in the north part of China) and greatly enlarged the territory of the Western Han.
- Increasing the amount of territory under Chinese rule.
- Han emperors established a strong military, which allowed them to conquer new territories, expanding the reach of the empire as far as modern day Korea and North Vietnam.
- During the Han dynasty, China experienced a period of peace, stability, and prosperity.
- During the Han dynasty, great achievements were made in the areas of education, culture, and science. Shifting away from the Legalist philosophy of the Qin dynasty, Han rulers instituted a Confucian system of government under which government officials were selected based on merit, rather than by birth.